Multiple service hair drier or the like



Oct. 13, 1936. E, KELLEY 2,057,033

MULTIPLE SERVICE HAIR DRIER OR THE LIKE Filed July 17, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 W INVENTOR.

LLE X Oct. 13, 1936. J. E. KELLEY MULTIPLE SERVICE HAIR DRIER OR THELIKE Filed July 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1936' vUNITED STATES TIPIESERVIOEHAIBDRIER .OBTHELIKE mm a Kelley, Larchmont,N. 1. Application July 11, 1935, Serial No. 31,806- 1 Claims. (01.34-20) "This invention relates to multiple service hair driers or thelike, and provides improvements therein:

This invention provides an improved apparatus comprising a plurality offeeder ducts and a pluraiity' of delivery devices, such for example ashoods adapted to partially surround a head, by which air from one oranother of the feeder ducts,

or in any desired proportions from the plurality of ducts, may beadmitted to the delivery devices and which proportions may be differentfor each delivery device. That is, for example, cold or unheated air maybe admitted from one feeder duct to one delivery device, hot air fromanother feeder duct ,to a second delivery device, mixtures of hot andcold or unheated air in a desired proportion may be admitted from twofeeder ducts to a third delivery device, and mixtures of hot and coldair' in a different desired proportion may be admitted from the twofeeder ducts to a fourth delivery device and so on.

By the present improvements means for regulating theadmission of air areprovided by which the area for the admission of air to the deliverydevices, whether it be from one or another of the feeder ducts, or fromtwo of tlie feeder ducts, remains constant.

By the present improvements also means may be provided at each deliverydevice for effecting remote control of the regulating means thereat, sothat a person whose head is in a hood having her hair dried, can effectchanges in the tem-' perature of the air to suit her comfort. I

The invention may also further provide means for automatically cuttingof! the flow of air to one or more of the hoods after the use thereofhas finished to prevent idle flow of air from the delivery device ordevices.

The invention further provides a novel arrangement of the elements of amultiple service hair drier by which the device is simplified, made moreeconomical to construct, and is enhanced in utiutyi Alf-Embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with parts in section, illustrating so muchof the apparatus as is necessary to illustrate the invention. v

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line Fig. 3 is an enlargedvertical sectional view illustrating the means for regulating the flowfrom the feeder-ducts to air delivery.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line H, Fig. 3. 1

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken trans versely of the feederducts, and showing a modifled form of the means for regulating the flowof air from the feeder ducts to a delivery device.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 66, Fig. 5. 5 Referring to saiddrawings, numeral Ill designates a central air-blower comprising amotor. driven fan I2, a fan casing ii, an air receiver IS incommunication with the fan casing l3, and also in communication withvertical flues l1 and, 10 4:, zhich flues communicate with feeder ductsOne of the flues, as the flue l8, conducts cold or unheated air from thereservoir ii to one of the feeder ducts, as the duct 2|. The designationof 15 air in this flue l8 as being cold or unheated airv does notexclude the air having some warmth, as the air drawn in by the fan l2may become warmed by the heat given off by the machine, by recirculationof the air, or otherwise.

Means are provided for heating the air which isconducted through thefeeder ducts 20. This means preferably comprises a heater 22 located inthe flue IT. The heater 221s located above the receiver i5, so that airin the receiver l5 may dis- 25 tribute in the fines l1, It in accordancewith the variations of resistance to flow offered by these flues and theother parts of the apparatus in communication therewith, but flow of hotair from the flue I! to theflue I 8 will not occur. The 30 heater 22 ispreferably in the form of a drum 24 ,closedto the flue I1, andcontaining a suitable heating element 26, preferably in the form of agas burner. The fan, air receiver and dues are preferably contained in ahousing 26. The drum 35 2c is in communication with the exterior of theI housing 26 by means of openings 30, 3| and pas-. sages passing throughthe flue I! to the interior of the drum. The drum 2!, being heated,transfers heat to the air flowing around it in the flue IT.

, 40 The air drawn in by the fan l2 may be conditioned, as for exampleby being cleaned and moisdirecting air from the chamber 44 between theshells I, 42 to the hair of a person whose head is placed within thehood. The chamber 44 of/ I aperson. Each of the tubes is also preferablyconnected to its support by means of a ball and socket connection 56 toprovide for movement around the axis of the tube to better accommodatethe hood to the position of the head of a person whose hair is beingdried. A means 66-is provided for regulating the flow from the feederducts 26, 2|, in reciprocal proportion, one to the other, to each of theair delivery devices 46 and the tubes 46 connected therewith. Theregulating means 66 acts in such a manner that the area for theadmission of air to each of the delivery devices 46 and to the tubes 46associated therewith, whether admission be from one or another of thefeeder ducts 26, 2|, or from two of the feeder-ducts, remains constant.One form of regulating means '66 for this purpose is shown in Figs. 1, 3and 4 and another form or modification in Fig. 5. Referring to the formof regulating mean shown in Figs.' 1 and 3, numeral 62 designates acylinder in communication with ducts 26, and 2| through ports 64, 65 ofsubstantially equal area. As here shown, the cylinder is preferablylocated in the partition wall 61 between the two ducts 26, 2| runningside by side. Within the cylinder 62 isa sleeve valve 16 having a port12 therein the area of which is approximately equal I of the feederducts, regulated.

'to the area of one or the other of the ports 64, 65,

plus one-half of the closed circumference of the cylinder. The sleevevalve, is rotatably, and also preferably axially movable in the cylinder62. For this purpose thesleeve valve 16 may be carried by a shaft 15.The shaft .15preferably'has a pulley 11 splined thereon, and passingaround,

the pulley are pull-cords 66, 6| which pass over suitable idle pulleys64 and extend through the feeder-ducts alongside of the air deliverydevices, in such manner that by. pulling on the cords 66, 6| the sleevevalve 16 may be rotated, and the ad-' mission'of air to the air deliverydevices, from one or the other of the feeder ducts, or from both Theform and relation of the ports 64, 65 and12 are such that the sleevevalve 16 in one position will completely shut off communication from oneof the feeder ducts, as the feeder duct 26, to the air delivery device46 and at the same time fully open the air I delivery devicezto theother feeder-duct 2|; in

another position of the sleeve valve 16 the said valve will completelyshutoff communication from one feeder duct 2| to the air delivery deviceand at the same time fully open the feeder duct 26 and establishcommunication between the feeder duct 26 and theair delivery device; and

in other rotated positions of the valve 16, communication will beestablished between each of the feeder ducts 26 and 2| and an airdelivery device. Depending on the rotated position of the sleeve valve16 moreor less air will flow through the valve fromone feeder ductthanfrom the other, and thereby any desired temperature of The sleeve valve16 is also preferably provided with a skirt 65, the function of theskirt 65 being to close the ports 64, 65 when the sleeve valve 16 isslid axially. Suitable means are provided for effecting axial movementof the'sleeve valve 16. These means are preferably .of such a naturethat axial movement of the sleeve valve 16 to portclosing position iseffected automatically with the lifting of the hood from the head of aperson. The means for axially'moving the valve 16 is conveniently in theform of a rod 61 carried by the telescoping part 41 of the tube 46. Asthe hood 46 is lifted the portion 41 of the tube 46 rises carrying withit the rod 61. In the course of the upward movement of the tube section41, the rod 61 strikes the sleeve valve 16 and thereafter furthermovement-of the tubesection 41 causes the rod 61 to shift the sleevevalve 16 to the position where the skirt 65 closes the ports 64., 65. Inthis way failure to shut off the flow of air through an individual hood,when such individual hood is not being used, through the inattention ofthe attendant, is prevented, the use of air conserved, and thedischargeof unnecessary quantities of heated air into the room avoided.

Th weight of the hood and of the tube part 41 is preferablycounterbalanced, so that the hood may be adjusted to, and remain at, avertical position of use suited to the height of the person whose hairis being dried. Means for this purpose are indicated at 66. The means 66preferably comprises 'a long spring of the coil type, known in the tradeas a pullman type spring.

A strap 62 connects the spring with the tube part 41 and the connectionis preferably through a swivel joint 64, so that the tube section 41 mayturn without twisting the strap 62. The friction of the counterbalancingspring of the device 66 against its casing, and also the frictionbetween the tube sections 41, 46 issuch that the tube section willremain in any position to which it is moved against the tension of thespring. The friction is overcome by manual force exercised in raisingand lowering the hood, the counterbalancing spring of the device 66acting with a force substantially equal to that necessary to overcomethe weight of the hood andof the tube section 41.

Referring to Fig. '5 an outer chamber 65 is provided within which theair regulating device 66 is located. The chamber 65 has the dividedparts 66, 61 and the part 66 is in communication with one feeder duct,as for example, the feeder duct 2| through an opening 66 and the otherdivided part 61. of the chamber is in communication with the otherfeeder duct 26 through an opening 66. The port 64 of the'valve 66 opensinto the divided part 61 of the chamber'andthe port 65 opens into thedivided part 66 of the chamber 65.

In the modification shown -in--I ig. 5 the tube section 41 is acted uponby spring |6| having a force sufllcient to lift the hood 46 and the tubesection 41 to the uppermost positions thereof. The telescopingparts 41,46 are held in their dif-,

ferent positions of adjustment by means of a friction clamp'or the likeI66. In adjusting the hood to the head of a sitter the hood is pusheddown to the desired position against the force of the spring Ill, andthen fastened in said adjusted position by operation of the clamp I66.If the drying operation has been completed the clamp I66 is loosenedwhereupon the spring l6| raises the hood to its upper position, andduring such movement, the .rod 61 mounted on a tele- 75 air-deliverydevices, and means for regulating the scoping part 41 comes in contactwith the sleeve valve 10 and slides axially to a position where theskirt 85 thereon closes the ports ll, 85.

A yent I may be provided in the cylinder 62, and by suitably choosingthe size of the vent, the rate of moving and stopping of the hood 4. maybe regulated in the end part of the movement thereof.

To facilitate the manufactureof multiple service hair-driers withvariations in the number of air-delivery devices according to the wantsof diflerent customers, the device preferably comprises a number ofunits I05, one of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each of these unitsincludes short sections of the feeder-ducts, 20, 2!, a means 60 forgoverning the flow of air to a hood or delivery device In, and a tubesection 48; a delivery-device 40 may also be included as a part of theunit. In-constructing a multiple drier, the central blower and a numberof units I corresponding to the: number of air-delivery devices desiredare shipped and the apparatus set up by connecting the units lli withsections of tubing llll which can be cut of a length'to give the desiredspacing between the air delivery devices, and the units I05 and sectionsI" joined by a slip joint and held together in any suitable manner.

The invention may receive otherembodiments than those hereinspecifically illustrated and described.

' What is claimed is:

1. A multiple service hair-drier or the like, comprising a centralair-blower, a plurality of feederducts extending from said blower, aplurality of and said port-in said valve being equal to the area of oneof said cylinder ports plus one-half of the closed circumference of-thecylinder the arrangement being such that, when the valve is rotated, theporttherein may register with the port inthe cylinder in communicationwith the hot-air-feeder duct, the port in communication with theunheated air feeder-duct, or'simultaneously with'the ports incommunication with both said feeder-ducts the open port area .of saidvalve remaining'substantially the same in all-of the positions of saidvalve.

2. A multiple service hair-drier or the like, comprising a centralair-blower, a plurality of feeder-ducts extending from said blower, aplurality of air-delivery devices, and means for regulating the flowfrom each of said feeder-ducts to'each of said delivery'devices, saidmeans comprising a cylinder having a port in communica-- tion with eachof said feeder ducts and a rotatable and axially movable sleeve-valvehaving a port therein and a skirt, the arrangement being such that,'whenthe valve is rotated, the port therein may register with the port in thecylinder in communication with the hot-air feederduct,the port .incommunication with the .unheated air-feeder-duct, or simultaneously withthe ports in communication with both said feeder-ducts, and, whensaidsleeve-valve is shifted axially, the skirt thereon closes said ports insaid cylinder.

3 Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said air-delivery devicecomprises a telescoping' tube and means thereon for shifting saidsleeve-valve axially.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidair delivery devicecomprises a telescoping tube, means thereon for shiftingsaidsleeve-valve axially, means tending to move said-telescoping tube in adirection to cause the valve-shifting means to close said valve, andmeans for retaining said telescoping tube in diflferent positions ofadjustment thereof. v

5. Apparatus according to claim- 2, wherein said airdelivery devicecomprises a telescoping tube, means thereon, for shifting saidsleeve-valve axially, and means for counter-balancing said telescopingtube and parts carried thereby, said telescoping 'tube in the course oftelescoping movement imparted thereto causing said valveshifting meansto automatically move said sleeve valve to closing position.

' 6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for regulatingthe flow from each of said feeder ducts to each of said delivery devicescomprises a divided chamber at the outside of said ducts, each divisionof which is in communi-- cation with each of said feeder ducts, and witha port in said cylinder, said cylinder and valve being located in saidchamber,

7. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cylinder is locatedpartly within each of said feeder ducts.

JOHN E. KELLEY.

